My Piece of History: I helped make it happen!!

Here's a play by play of my amazing week in D.C. for President Obama's Inauguration.

Thursday late evening: arrive in D.C.

My friend Amy from high school was kind enough to offer a place to stay and picked me up from the airport, too! (Since my flight arrived after the Metro stopped running.) I hadn't met her roommate Alexander yet, but he was so sweet to make a bed for me before I arrived.

Friday: leisurely day.

The full gravitas of the experience hadn't quite settled into the city yet, and none of my cohort out-of-towners had arrived. My Metro stop was on the red line, and conveniently, most of my engagements were also on the red line. I walked around Dupont Circle a bit, found an indulgent (and warm) vegan cafe, and ended the day hanging out with Amrita, a college friend I hadn't seen since 2003. It was so great to see her again! We walked to dinner then to her place where she made the most delicious vegan hot chocolate. Ok, the magic touch was probably the Ghiradelli (vegan) chocolate chips that "spilled" into the cocoa. But having a readily available vegan option for hot chocolate was freakin' awesome! Friday's theme so far: coming out of vegan exile. HAH!

Actually, the REALLY fantastic part of Friday was catching up with Amrita. Her post-college exploration resembles mine somewhat - minus the teaching elementary school thing. She's had a few jobs that were great in ways and not so great in others. She's done her share of wandering around Europe. And now she works for an organization that helps Asian/Pacific Islander victims of domestic violence. She helped me appreciate being in a city other than the mainline NGO hubs like D.C. and NYC.

Saturday: still easing into full gear.

At the time, I saw Saturday as a day for recuperation because Friday was COLD. Apparently, it was the coldest day in D.C. in five years. It took me until Sunday before I finally got on board with the two-layered pants strategy. After sleeping in a bit, I decided to walk around again. But alas, once again, I landed in a warm cafe with a nice view until the time arrived for my dinner with the rest of the ASC crew. I was skeptical about the restaurant when I paid $4.50 for tea and saw the four course dinner option for $44/person. BUT, it turned out to be a brilliant location. One of the planners had heard it turned into a club late at night, and lo and behold, it did. We debated going elsewhere to party but decided to stay put and had a blast. Check out photos on facebook. Then! When we were really tired and left, we discovered the real value of the evening. We discovered that the cover charge to get in our dinner club was $20! SCORE! HAH!

Sunday: the real beginning

Sunday marked the official start of Inaguration Week with the We Are One concert at the Lincoln Memorial. I went with Amy, Alexander, and Kim (Amy's cousin). We collectively agreed NOT to arrive at 9am for a 2:30pm concert. Instead, we were in line by about 1pm and then directed to the "jumbo-tron" viewing area around 2pm. The numbers I heard estimated 300,000 people in the secure area and at least 750,000 people total. We had fun. This was our firsthand introduction to the concepts: "Yay! Crowds are warm!" and "Yes, I know you're just passing through and not trying to stand in front of me, but you're increasing airflow and moving my portable heaters (people) away from me."

Right around the time U2 came on stage, I realized I was hearing more famous artists live in one concert than I've probably heard in my whole lifetime. (the real live music highlight comes on Tuesday) Because I'm a concert snob who doesn't like paying $50+ for concert tickets. Granted, they each sang about one song, and none of the songs were originals. Whatever, it was cool. AND this was my first time hearing Obama and Biden live, except on conference calls.

Sunday continued with a Missouri Obama Staff Reunion. The fantastic part was hanging out with my MO people, Werks, Jonae, Amber, meeting Jarvis and Jonae's sister (shoot! can't remember her name), and seeing the GA organizers, too, Sarah and Justin. The glitch came early when we discovered that the official MO Reunion location was a 21 and up bar. Two of our organizers are 18 and 19, so the bar was a no go. We tried to find a restaurant with seating for eight, contemplated hanging at Amber's hotel, but eventually landed at a McD's instead. I voiced my frustration to our state director in a crisp email. If we had known ahead of time that the MO Reunion location was a bar, then we could have PLANNED, made a reservation elsewhere for our group at a restaurant for all ages or SOMETHING. Impromptu plans with eight people don't work AT ALL. Seeing everyone and hanging out, though, that was awesome.

Monday: the calm before the storm

What did I do Monday? I'm not sure I remember. Oh yeah, this was my first big walking day. AND, I forgot an important development from Saturday night. I found the most grateful recipient of my extra Inauguration ticket: Nayadin. Nayadin and I did our education courses and student teaching together at ASC. Unlike me, though, she actually likes teaching and stuck with it. She came up to D.C. from Atlanta without a ticket, like tons of other people, just for the awesome experience. When she heard I had a spare - she pounced! Kidding, not really, but she was really excited. So we decided meeting up Tuesday would be our attempt, but we knew there would be no guarantee. We met up Monday to hang out and for me to give her the coveted ticket.

Back to the walking. After I gave the ticket to Nayadin, we went to lunch and walked around with a couple of her friends, Lauren and ????? (darn it, there I go again forgetting a name. that's what I get for waiting 3 days before blogging). Anyway, the guy friend suggested we walk over the Key Bridge to Georgetown to see MANIFESTHOPE:DC. That exhibit blew me away! To paraphrase a comment from the exhibit's website, isn't it amazing to have a series of art inspired by our president as compared to the last eight years during which most people were embarrassed by our president?

Tuesday: are YOU ready?

I spent Monday night hanging out with Amy, Alexander, and Kim at their condo, so we could all rise at 3 A.M. for the big day. Yes, it was early, and yes, it was worth it. As the eager beaver, I walked to the metro station in time to be there when it opened at 4 A.M. But alas, the crowd of us had to wait 'til 4:15 before they opened the gates. No big deal, I got on that first train and made it to my designated security checkpoint metro, Judiciary Square on 4th St. NW, by 5am. Once off the train, I had to navigate the crowds and streets to find my actual line at the intersection of Constitution Ave. and First St. NW My first mistake was easy to correct. I saw that the street I wanted to walk down was blocked off, I decided to follow a crowd down an interstate tunnel to circumvent the blocked street. However, when I saw an exit sign for 2nd St. SW, I sensed trouble. I confirmed with an officer and turned right around. No worries, I still arrived at my "Purple Ticket Line" by about 5:30am. Or so I thought. At this point, it did cross my mind that I was again following a crowd without gathering my own information. However, this line was growing rapidly enough that leaving it to explore other options would have cost me greatly.

When Nayadin found me in line, I was so grateful for her warmth and company that I didn't even think about one of us going to explore other line possibilities. Four hours later......having moved about a block and heard no official updates on entry status, one of our line buddies climbed on a guy's shoulders and reported that the people gaining entry were in a completely different line, which was quite far away. So it wasn't until 10:30 a.m. that we abandoned our line to make our way to what we hoped would be the line to our entrance. Keep in mind that moving an inch in a direction different from where the crowd was headed was near impossible. People were amazingly happy and polite, but no one likes being pushed.

Once we were in the new line, we were inside within an hour! That security gate was mayhem! As soon as we passed through the metal detectors, everyone sprinted. We bombarded through the porta-johns trying to get to our new crowd and realize we could see nor hear anything substantial. It was SO amazing to finally be inside!

And then we noticed Nayadin's blackberry was gone. We went back to security, hopeful but not successful. When we returned, we decided to stay out of the crowd, so we could hear better. Within moments, they were announcing Izhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Gabriella Montero, and Anthony McGill who played an arrangement by John Williams, "Air and Simple Gifts." That was beautiful! Then, even though I couldn't see or hear the oath at the time, hearing the cannons and watching the officers ride through the crowd.....I was so moved. I'm sure everyone has heard President Obama's speech by now. I loved it.

The rest of Tuesday blurs together. We scattered pretty quickly after the speech, I missed the benediction. When I got back to my metro stop, I ate, and then got a text message back from the good samaritan who found Nayadin's phone. What a relief! I went to retrieve the phone, returned it to Nayadin, and went to sleep as soon as I got home. That return trip was also the only time I took a taxi instead of walking the mile home from the metro. I thoroughly enjoyed the walking, but by about 6pm on Tuesday, I was exhausted.

Wednesday: no time to recuperate, it's time to PARTY

I guess I slept in a little bit, compared to Tuesday, but it sure didn't feel like it. I met up with my MO crew again, and then I went to April's to get ready for the Staff Ball. April's another ASC friend who lives in D.C. She lives close to Reagan National Airport, so she offered to drop me off Thursday morning. She also came to the Staff Ball with me, which was awesome. The Staff Ball had amazing food, even more amazing music (Arcade Fire and Jay-Z), and more wonderful speeches from Joe and Barack. Very inspiring!!!! And of course, we were too excited to go to sleep without catching up and too tired to talk as long as we wanted.

Oh, what a wonderful week! A once in a lifetime experience!

Trekkin'

Here I am in Amman, Jordan. We arrived yesterday evening around 6pm local time. That's 11am EST. We visited Jerash today, one of the Roman Decapolis, and my first archeaological ruins. I learned that 20% of the ancient city has been excavated while the other 80% waits buried for the millions of dollars required to fund digs. For more detailed blogging on this day as well as the rest of my trip, check out the group blog posted daily on AJC Travel Blog. I will blog my own unique experience and especially post pictures as I can.

V-Day: Reclaiming Peace 2007

I went to Atlanta's V-Day event at the Tabernacle on Thursday night, and it was fantastic! The performers were very impressive: hilarious, poignant, touching, tragic, all of it. As a volunteer, I got to hear Eve Ensler speak briefly at the VIP reception immediately preceding the show. Her message was clear and intentional that V-Day's goal of empowering women means sharing power with men, NOT dominating, eliminating, controlling, taking over, or oppressing men. I like the eight statements of the V-Day Mission.

V-Day is an organized response against violence toward women.

V-Day is a vision. We see a world where women live safely and freely.

V-Day is a demand: Rape, incest, battery, genital mutilation and sexual slavery must end now.

V-Day is a spirit: We believe women should spend their lives creating and thriving rather than surviving or recovering from terrible atrocities.

V-Day is a catalyst: By raising money and consciousness, it will unify and strengthen existing anti-violence efforts. Triggering far-reaching awareness, it will lay the groundwork for new educational, protective, and legislative endeavors throughout the world.

V-Day is a process: We will work as long as it takes. We will not stop until the violence stops.

V-Day is a day. We proclaim Valentine's Day as V-Day, to celebrate women and end the violence.

V-Day is a fierce, wild, upstoppable movement and community. Join us!

V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine, and Vagina. To date, the movement has raised over $40 million and educated millions about the issue of violence against woman and the efforts to end it. This is more than any other anti-violence campaign in the world.

Part of the process of empowering women is providing an opportunity, sometimes prodding women to speak, to tell their stories. Eve Ensler's book, The Vagina Monologues, was that platform: for many of the women, the first time they'd spoken of their trauma, shame, or disgust associated with their vagina. Ms. Ensler travelled the country interviewing women of all ages to hear and record their stories. When pain is experienced and then buried, the healing process is delayed, the scar deepens. On the flip side, when we see and hear others who have felt and experienced similar hurts, we understand that we aren't alone, the violence wasn't our fault, and it doesn't have to continue. Upon ourselves or others.

For me, that's what V-Day is about: raising awareness, so that someday soon, no woman feels trapped or silenced in a violent situation, and so that increasing numbers of men feel liberated to demonstrate to other men how to relate and behave toward women and all people in respectful, non-dominating, non-agressive manners. We all take rebuke more seriously when it comes from "one of our own kind."

Furthermore, violence includes more than just physical harm. Taken from the Men Stopping Violence website,

"You don't have to hit someone to batter that person. Many people think that battering is defined by how many times a man hits a woman. In fact, many men who complete our (MSV) six-month batterers program have never physically struck a woman. What they have done, however, is struck fear in a woman by using a wide range of controlling and abusive behaviors over a sustained period of time."

My Story

Tonight was the viewing of V-Day: Until the Violence Stops, a documentary about the V-Day movement started by Eve Engler, at Charis Bookstore in L5P, sponsored by Charis Circle and Men Stopping Violence. Facts come from V-Day.org and the Family Violence Prevention Fund. Coming up:

V-Day Atlanta GA

As part of the 2007 V-Day Worldwide Campaign, Atlanta GA is proud to present a benefit production of The Vagina Monologues to raise awareness and funds for local organizations working to end violence against women and girls.

5 April 2007 - 7:30 PM
With Special Guest Doria Roberts

Venue: Tabernacle

152 Luckie Street NW
Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Fact: 28 Central African countries practice female genital mutilation on girls, usually between the ages of 4 and 12.

Fact: There are 3 types of FGM: clitoridectomy, the amputation of the clitoris; excision of the labia minora as well as the clitoris; and infibulation, the removal all external genitalia including the labia majora, after which the edges of the wound are stitched together, allowing for only a tiny opening. In Somali custom, prior to a girl's marriage, the best man uses a bull's horn to re-open the stitching for her husband.

Fact: The clitoris is a bundle of 8,000 nerves, the most nerves in a single location in the human body, male or female.

Fact: During WWII, Japanese soldiers were given "comfort women" on the battle field. These were South Asian civilians who were forced into military sex slavery between 1932 and 1945. Many women have been shunned from their children after speaking out seeking justice, compensation, an apology from the Japanese government.

Fact: Around the world, at least one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime.

Fact: Nearly one-third of American women (31 percent) report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives, according to a 1998 Commonwealth Fund survey.

Manhater? I hate cultures and societies that tolerate, condone, and promote violence against women, children, minorities, marginalized, ANYONE.

I have been encouraged to reconsider my sexual orientation based on, among other choices, my decision to sometimes NOT shave.

I have been asked: Are you a lesbian? Because I chose to attend a women's college. Because I claim my freedom to defy society's or anyone's definition of what makes me feminine or womanly. I choose to create, modify, and uphold my own images of beauty and sex appeal.

Are you a manhater? Because I wear a shirt that says about my alma mater, Agnes Scott College, "Not a girls' school without men, but a women's college without boys."

And these questions never come from strangers. They come from friends, people who know me!

Christian Peace Witness

Quick Facts

• March 16, 7pm: ecumenical worship at the National Cathedral with two overflow locations
• over 3,000 Christians processed 4 miles from the National Cathedral to LaFayette Park
  
• at least 222 people arrested in Divine Obedience
• Weather: High--41 deg F, Low--30 deg F (felt like 17 deg F), Precipation--(rain, sleet, freezing rain, and snow) 2.49 in., Wind--ranged from 15 to 20 mph throughout the day and night
  

Key Speakers:

• Jim Wallis--author of God's Politics; President and Executive Director of Sojourners/Call to Renewal
  

• Rev. Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson--President of the North American Region of the World Council of Churches

• Rev. Raphael Gamaliel Warnock, Ph.D.
  Senior Pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia

• Celeste Zappala--Gold Star Families Speak Out, gsfso.org

• Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr.--Director of the Hip-Hop Caucus
  
  

While I actively wrestle with the label of Christian and whether or not I claim it for myself, I participated in the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq in Washington, D.C. on Friday, March 16. An explanation on the website offers the reasoning for creating a specifically Christian witness. However, I found the downloadable PDF interfaith invitation even more meaningful in my decision to invest my energies in this endeavor.

On Friday morning over 3,000 Christians from 48 states began to gather in our Nation's capital. I arrived on a coach bus with a group of 37 Presbyterians from Atlanta. We left Atlanta at 9:30 pm Thursday night and arrived in Washington, D.C. at 11am Friday morning. After being photographed as a group by an Atlanta-Journal Constitution photojournalist, we dispersed for lunch and various workshops.

I attended a lecture given by Rick Ufford-Chase at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, just a few blocks from the White House. By far the most motivating speech I've heard in most of my life. Few stick out in my mind. His most poignant statement for me was this: "Apathy is not an option."

After lunch with my afternoon crowd, Zeena, Azzie, Sophie, and Xandria, we returned to NYAPC for warm shelter and workshops. I attended the second half of the Extended Nonviolent Action Training for individuals considering Civil Disobedience and therefore risking arrest by crossing Pennsylvania Ave. from LaFayette Park to pause and pray for peace in front of the White House. The law requires that protesters (and I believe all civilians) keep moving in front of the White House.

The afternoon included debriefing and a role play on the process to expect in being arrested. Leaders of the CPW event had been in negotiations with the National Park Police in expediting the the evening, so that information was shared in this training. Experienced protesters shared their perspectives and encouragement for the discernment of whether to participate and what outcomes could be predicted based on various choices inside the process of being arrested. I participated as a peace witness in the role play and felt the simulation of being arrested. Very moving experience.

Next I headed over to the National Cathedral for the worship service. I planned on taking a bus from the Metro station, but I ran into a few from my group, so we started the mile walk together. At our differing paces, we gradually split into 3 groups. Thankfully, a few of us gathered in the basement of the church and were able to claim a section of excellent seats for the entire group. Eventually, almost all of us re-convened in these seats for the worship service.

In my state of reduced mobility I registered for a shuttle instead of walking the 4 miles with the crowd to LaFayette Park. In seeking out the logistics of this transportation, I walked around the Cathedral after the service with a few volunteers who had invited me onto their van. Eventually, instead, I ran into my pal Sophie (I will now call her Ebony because she jokingly referred to us together as Ebony and Ivory:)), who also was unable to walk the 4 miles, and we took a shuttle together.

We were delivered to NY Ave Pres and joined the worshippers there until the time came to walk 4 blocks to LaFayette Park and converge with the processers from the Cathedral. As early arrivers, Ebony and I were able to stake out a spot on the police barricade in order to see best view the Civil Disobedience. In the waiting time, we were interviewed by a Reuters journalist and photographed (extensively) by a Sojourners photojounalist.

The crowd grew in numbers and activity. We alternated between singing "We Shall Overcome" and "Ain't Gonna Study War No More." Eventually, we could feel the presence of the processers. Then we heard the megaphone commissioning of those participating in Divine Obedience.

On the CPW website, 787 people registered to participate in Civil Disobedience. Because of the large numbers, the Police brought buses to the site for processing. This action was planned yet unprecedented. If the usual process had been followed, the arrest process could have lasted until Monday due to the large numbers.

Ebony and I both longed to witness the arrests. We saw the first wave of 100 cross PA Avenue. We saw some kneel, others stand. We heard them sing and sang with them from across the street. We heard, though couldn't quite decipher, the three warnings from the police. But when the bus pulled up to block our view, we finally hurried back to NYAPC to join our Atlanta group for the journey home.

Upcoming Events:

Thursday, March 22, 2007 7:30 PM

Until the Violence Stops: Film Screening & Discussion Location: Charis Books & More, 1189 Euclid Avenue11189 Description: “V-Day: Until the Violence Stops” chronicles how Eve Ensler’s Off-Broadway solo show The Vagina Monologues grew into V-Day, an international grassroots movement to stop violence against women and girls. Join us to view this powerful documentary in anticipation of V-Day Atlanta on April 5 at the Tabernacle (with Eve herself, Jane Fonda, and Pearl Cleage!). This program is co-sponsored by Men Stopping Violence who, along with Charis Circle, will be a beneficiary of the April 5 performance.

In the works

My new life is in the works. Of course, the top priority after the skiing accident was assessing the damage. When it became official that I needed surgery, I began to evaluate my options. Staying in Prague seemed out of the question. Even if I could manage to pay for the surgery here, it's a walking city, just like every other European city. Getting around and supporting myself here would be impossible for the recovery period after surgery and extremely difficult in the in-between time. The other extreme would be going home to Knoxville to live with my parents. I stayed on that option for a few days. However, after some internet research, talking to many people who have dealt with similar knee issues, and being encouraged by my Atlanta friends that they'll help me as much as I need, I decided I can manage in Atlanta.

According to webmd, most people are walking (with a crutch) quite easily within a week or two after the surgery, which is itself a two-hour long outpatient procedure. The long process is actually the physical therapy after surgery to re-build my knee's strength to it's original capacity. Webmd also says that with 6-9 months of diligent PT, most people regain 90% of their original level of activity. A torn or ruptured ACL is an athlete's injury, so everything I found made references to athletes returning to their game. Very encouraging.

So here I am looking for a new job and new apartment from the other side of the world:). Very fun. Since I'm about 75% housebound with wireless internet and a laptop, it's not such an arduous task. Just yesterday I had a Skype interview with an Atlanta job prospect. The second interview with that prospect will be the day after I get back, as well as another phone interview on Wednesday morning. And a third interview will be arranged once I'm back in town. I waver on which is my favorite of the job possibilities, but I could definitely be happy doing any of them.

I hate the gambling feel of this phase, though. I have three possibilities, for all of which I'm very grateful. I could get three offers or none. If I get none, the broke phase will last longer. And thus, the apartment search goes well, but I'm limited by the ambiguity of my income.

That's what really sucks about this injury. The week before Munich, I had finalized schedules for teaching English with three different language schools, which is how it's done here--piecemeal, and met with the director of La Strada, the THB NGO. I was going to teach 20 hours a week, which is considered full time and plenty to live on, and volunteer at La Strada one day a week, helping with grantwriting and fundraising. I also had plans to work with the social workers who helped the clients. In short, I was on the verge of earning money.

But instead, in one week, I spent more than I'd spent in the whole time I'd been in Prague. Bleh. Of course, my health insurance will help, but not for awhile, and it'll only help a little. Bleh, so it goes.

I'm excited to see my friends in Atlanta, but I was also excited about the new friendships that were just beginning here in Prague. I have mixed feelings about going back, but mostly, I'm disappointed. I really had every intention of staying here for awhile, at least 6 months, maybe even beyond a year. I know I can come back. I also believe that change isn't always for good or for bad, it's just simply change.

My Day in the Alps

Most people want their day in Hollywood, or 10 minutes of fame, whatever. Not me. I wanted my day in the Alps. In making plans to visit a friend who lives in Munich, I discovered that the Bavarian Alps were just a short train ride away from Munich. And all total, the day trip would cost me about $100. Therefore, I decided it would be well worth it to take a day to ski. Off I go to Garmisch-Partenkirschen with my newly purchased ski pants, sunglasses, and borrowed ski gloves. I'm psyched!! Skiing in the Alps!!! Woohoo!!

Here it goes: Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007. I got up bright and early, walked to the metro, and caught an 8:32 train to G-P. I arrived and found a ski schule to rent equipment. I headed up the mountain and inquired to know how the European system works for rating the difficulty of slopes. I picked an intermediate slope and made my way down.

Then about halfway down, I hit a patch of ice on a downward curve and fall. Except that it's not that simple. The skis went haywire, but they didn't come off. The skis (or at least one of them) should have popped off, but the binding was too tight. Instead, my knees twisted with the skis. I heard them pop, and here we are.

I thought I could rest a bit and then finish the slope. I tried once with the skis still on, fell, and took them off. I rested some more and tried to get up with the skis off. Nope. Fell again. During this next rest period, guy stopped and asked if I needed help. I told him I'd be fine after I just rested a little bit. Not so much. I tried several more times, but the boots felt like concrete blocks on my feet. Even when I could get on my knees and position it so I wasn't lifting the boots so much, I fell. Again and again.

Finally, I decided I needed help. Another guy stopped to help me. He took my skis and poles, and then helped me SLOWLY walk to a nearby building. I would get more comfortable, try to walk slightly faster, and fall again. Then the man would help me get up again. Or when we had to go down a small slope, I'd lose my stability. At this point, I started to realize the seriousness of the injury.

There was a nice older couple who helped me sit and stayed with me while Mr. Samaritan went for the Mountain Rescue. Then I rode the snow mobile down to the nearest ski lift. At the ski lift, they put me in a wheel chair and took me down the mountain. The ambulance came to the Rescue Station and took me to the hospital in Garmisch-Partenkirschen. The doctor did x-rays on both knees, and told me I would need an MRI on my left knee. He said I would probably need surgery on the left knee, but that only an MRI could tell me for sure.

I tried to ask questions, but his English was limited. He said I could either stay there until
Friday for the MRI, or have the MRI done in Munich. I also got a splint, crutches, and a shot to prevent trombosis. I was instructed to give myself one shot per day as long as I wore the splint. At this point, they asked if I had transportation. I told them I arrived on the train and they scoffed. I tried to call Tobi in Munich for advice, but he didn't answer. I figured he was driving back from Frankfort because he'd gone that day to get his visa for the US.

I asked the hospital receptionist how much a taxi would cost all the way to Munich (because I could barely stand even with two crutches and a splint), and she said 300 euro. I though, ok, I can handle the train. But the taxi driver came to take me to the ski schule and return my boots, and then to the train station. I asked her how much she would charge me to go to Munich, and she said 135 euro. So I started to consider.

After almost falling on the two steps up to the ski schule, and still not carrying any of my stuff, I decided against the train. So we were off to Munich. This time I was aware of driving on the autobahn and paid attention to her speed, which was 160-200 kmh most of the time. That's between 100 and 120 mph. Thrilling! :) I called Tobi from her cell phone, and they agreed on a meeting place just outside of Munich, to avoid rush hour traffic.

That first day was rough. I've never broken any bones or needed to be on crutches, so I hated feeling like such a cripple. It also took me awhile to adjust to actually functioning with the crutches. The taxi driver told me over and over to use my good knee. But I didn't really have a good knee at that point. Even though the right knee is only strained and will heal itself in 3-4 weeks, it's still far from 100%.

Wednesday and Thursday were spent finding a place to get the MRI and a doctor to prescribe more trombosis shots. The orthopedic surgeon who looked at the MRI and prescribed more shots agreed with the radiologist that I definitely had to have surgery. But thankfully, it can wait a few weeks until I return to Atlanta. The doctor also examined my right knee because up to this point, the two felt the same (granted one was in a splint) and I was concerned.

This doctor also gave me tips on exercises to do with my knee, but I forgot to ask him how long to wear the splint. Insterestingly enough, in all this injury process, pain is not the primary problem. I feel pain and stiffness in the mornings, but it goes away quickly. My biggest issues are stability, mobility, and range of motion. When I come close to falling, I feel pain and wobbliness in catching myself, but the actual fall feels more like my knee(s) buckle or give out on me. As one friend found it described on the internet, it's like trying to walk on roller skates. You go along, but at any minute, you can be surprised and lose your balance quickly. So it goes.

But over the past few days, I have been continually surprised at the increased strength and mobility of both knees. At this point, I get around easily with just the lefthand crutch and the splint on my left leg. I only need the righthand crutch for extended walking or numerous stairs. Around the house or apartment, I can do some walking without either crutch. I have found some good info on the internet about best practice for the ACL pre-surgery. I've also talked to various people who have experience with this type of injury.

I was well taken care of in Munich. Tobi's parents were disappointed that I couldn't see their city, so they drove me around on Saturday to see as much as possible. I also promised to return another time to see more of it. Tobi's Dad even took pictures for me. They'll follow later.